Collection model:
Door to door collection for kitchen and residual waste across most municipalities, including major cities. 100% population coverage.
Treatment model:
21 composting plants, 1 anaerobic digestion & composting plant; compost sold to local farmers and gardeners.
Key elements:
Penalty/Premium mechanism since 2004 to boost separate collection & compost markets: penalty if <65% separation, premium 25–50% if >70–80%; 93% resident participation; vented caddies and compostable liners (EN 13432) provided; PAYT.
Evidence of success:
(2021 data) ~75% MSW separate collection rate. Bio-waste diversion 85%. Kitchen waste: 138 kg/inhab./yr. Impurities 3.3%. 90% of municipalities collect kitchen waste.
Italy
Scale: Regional
Demographic type: Mixed (urban / rural)
Population: 1,600,000 inh.; 66 inh./km² (2022)
Organisation in charge: ARPAS (Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell’Ambiente della Sardegna)
Source:
LIFE BIOBEST (2024). D3.1 Guidelines on Separate Collection: Annex 1 — Best Practice Cases on Bio-waste Collection.
CirbioWaste (2026). Study Tour – Separate Collection of Bio-Waste in Sardinia. March 2026.